By Kristi Reed
In an effort to provide better emergency service delivery to the citizens of Barrow County, the fire department contracted with a private ambulance service, Pro Care EMS, last October to provide non-emergency medical transport.

According to Barrow County Fire and Emergency Services Chief Robert Post, utilizing Pro Care EMS has enabled Barrow County units to respond to calls when previously they would have been out of service for one to two hours transporting non-emergency patients to area hospitals.

As a result, the average response time for medical calls has decreased from ten to 12 minutes to under eight minutes, the national standard for advanced life support emergency care.

The decision to utilize a private ambulance service came under fire Tuesday night when Dist. 3 commissioner Bill Healan questioned why the county should lose the revenue previously generated by ambulance transports.

In the past year, Pro Care has transported over 800 patients. Healan said the $800,000 in lost revenue could be used by the county.

Post said the loss in revenue has been offset by improved service, fuel savings and a reduction in out of service times which eliminates the need to rely on units from Gwinnett, Jackson and Hall counties to respond when Barrow units are unavailable.

“Yes, it is a reduction in revenue, but, on the other hand, our units are available in the county to answer calls. How do you put a price on that,” asked Post.

“You can’t put a price on that, but we’re working with revenue here,” Healan retorted. “The revenues collected from various departments all figures into our budget and $800,000 is a pretty good chunk. And you did it without board approval.”

Post said he had approval from his supervisor to implement the plan.

Dist. 2 commissioner Bill Brown expressed his support for the use of Pro Care. According to Brown, the first day Pro Care was in use, a Barrow County unit was dispatched to a cardiac arrest within a minute after transferring a patient to Pro Care. The Barrow County unit reached the cardiac arrest patient within three minutes and was able to administer life-saving emergency medical care.

Had Pro Care not been available to transport the non-emergency patient to Gwinnett Medical Center, the next closest unit to the patient in cardiac arrest would have been ten minutes away, Brown said.

Brown also said the revenue generated by the county was not guaranteed since many of the ambulance bills go unpaid.

“We’re talking may have done this, may have done that, but we absolutely, positively, don’t have $800,000,” Healan said.

Post said that was true, but explained he did not have the staff to operate six ambulances.

Healan suggested Post should reorganize his department since medical units are called more often than fire trucks.

In response, Post said that the only way to accomplish Healan’s suggestion would be to take fire trucks out of service and risk negatively impacting the county’s insurance (ISO) rating which is based on the number of fire trucks and the staff allocated to each truck.

County commission chairman Doug Garrison voiced his support for Post saying that even though the county may not receive the revenue from ambulance transports, the citizens were receiving better service.

“It’s more complicated than just a dollar business,” he said.

After Garrison attempted to move the discussion to another topic, a visibly angry Healan intervened claiming he was “under attack” by Post. Post immediately apologized.

“There was no intention of attacking you,” Post said. “My job as a fire chief is to provide emergency service to the citizens of Barrow County and that’s what I am trying to do with very, very limited resources.”

“You are in a small county, sir,” said Healan. “You get limited resources in a small county.”

The fire department’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2009 is $6.9 million. The department had requested $8.3 million in funding. Among the items cut from the 2009 budget are 23 positions, including personnel for the county’s new aerial ladder truck slated for delivery in late December.

Without the additional personnel, the truck will be unmanned, Post said.

“Without this additional staffing, we’re not going to be able to put that truck in service,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure you were aware of that.”

The Barrow County Board of Commissioners will vote on the proposed 2009 budget at its September 23 meeting. A public hearing on the budget will be held Thursday, September 18 at 6 p.m. in the board room of the Barrow County Administration Building located at 233 East Broad Street in Winder.

Bill, Thanks for staying on top of this topic. It appears there needs to be some boundaries for the department heads to ensure the Commissioners are aware of major policy changes that impact revenues or expenses.

I agree, Post says he does not have the personnel to man six ambulances. He's got enough to ride around in cars. Six if you want to count. The statement that the ladder truck can't be put in service because of lack of personnel is B/S.

Let's go back to one man on a fire truck. Heck let's just shut them all down so we can run med units. There are several of you out there that have had one man on a fire truck pull up when your house was on fire and start screaming at the fire fighter. It's not our fault. Chief Post is asking for help for the citizens. Get that through your heads.He has over 30 years experience in Gwinnett County. Half the people in Barrow now are from Gwinnett.He knows what is coming and trying to be proactive, so lay off.

Like I said he (Chief Post) is trying to be proactive not reactive. Heck Murray did it for years and got what he wanted. Now everyone wants ambulances and no fire trucks.What's up with that? I am blaming Murray for putting a bad taste in the tax payers mouths. Half of our fire trucks are able to administer Advanced Life Support (This is what saves your life not the ambulance) until an ambulance can arrive (You can thank Chief Post for that). The sheriffs department should start writing more tickets, all I see them doing is riding around talking on the County phones they are issued, that is what's sucking the tax payers money up(gas and phone charges).Where is the revenue they are supposed to be bringing in. Let's investigate their expenditures before slamming Fire and EMS. Did you know that the ambulance service only collects less than 50% of the transports they take! Most of the transports are from indigents (don't pay their bills) from within the County that tie the med unit up for 1 to 2 hours.These personnel are the ones we rely on to help fight fires and other emergencies. Get a clue before you start bashing us. Feel free to drop by any fire station and talk with the personnel.

Where is this contract?? I was told that it was a handshake agreement and not a binding contract! We have mutual aid contracts with the other counties, why wouldn't we have a contract in this case? Private EMS can pick and choose what they want to handle. Do you want to bet your family's health safety and welfare on a handshake agreement?? I don't!!

Let me just tell you this: Someone very close to Mr. Healan was just transported to the hospital last week. Do you know that by the time a Barrow County unit got on scene that ProCare already had this patient assessed, vital signs taken, and loaded on the stretcher. Sounds like its a working system to me. It benefits everyone. You cant put a price tag on quality care and good timing.

While I can understand Mr. Healan's financial concerns from a fiscal budgetary standpoint,clearly, this issue comes down to a choice between providing Barrow County Citizens with quality Fire and EMS protection, or risking people's lives and property for the sake of coming in on, or,under budget.
Let me put it this way: Envision your house on fire, or your loved one having a heart attack while you are screaming at the 911 dispatcher to get you some help. Where are your priorities then? The County Budget shortfall, or the human life or property you are trying to save? Ladies and Gentlemen, financial budgets can be modified....a human life can't.
Saving lives and property, trumps budgets every time, no matter which county you live in.
It takes a special group of folks to man the equipment and go out each and every day and put THEIR lives on the line to save ours. Don't you think they deserve the very best equipment and manpower we can provide? In my humble opinion the answer is YES!! I for one, am proud of those who serve on EMS and Fire crews. God bless you and your families.
Chairman Garrison is correct. It is more complicated than just a dollar business.
Mr. Healan, if you are trying to argue that saving lives and property must be balanced with a reduced budget, for the sake of being fiscally responsible, I am afraid your tenure on the BOC will be a short one.
Respectfully submitted,
DuWayne R. Anderson
Winder, GA

I agree you need help,but why not ask the current leadership why they felt issuing millions dollars in bonds to purchase property near the airport was more important than providing the funds to provide staff and maintain the emergency services. Mr Garrison and Glen Bloyd have stated several times that the taking of the Smiths land was all about public safety. Based on where they have chosen to spend millions in tax payer dollars, who's safety are they more concerned with, the taxpayers who own private aircraft or the other 99.9% who have no idea how many millions of dollars are being wasted at the local airport. Mr Healan is not saying funding of public safety is not a top priority but he is trying to take a stand against abuse and wasteful spending. Bottom line Barrow County and our Countries leaders can not continue to spend money we do not have. How much could the EMS and Fire services have benefited from 15 million dollars that is tied up in land that is no longer bringing in any tax revenue. The best way to start getting the help you need is to STOP the wasteful spending on special interest pet projects which seem to benefit a select few in the county. Start asking the right Questions and watch who benefits from the hidden spending and you will get the much deserved help you need.
Respectfully,
Chris Smith

I think it's ridiculous how Mr. Healen is acting. It's very disturbing as a Barrow County taxpayer to know how this one paticular individual on the BOC feels about the taxpayers wellbeing. As a firefighter for a surrounding county. Im very upset to hear how Mr. Healen is attacking the Fire and EMS portion of the county and i wish every Barrow County taxpayer could see the line in quotation from Mr. Healen “You are in a small county, sir,” said Healan. “You get limited resources in a small county.” This line is by far absolutely sorry for an individual on the BOC to say such a thing. Of course im going to support Chief Post on this issue, because he backs his arguments and ideas by accurate statistics. We can argue budgets all day but when it comes to human life and public safety, there shouldnt be an argument!

I'm a parent to one of the EMT personel that work for Pro
Care and I'm very proud of him for his ability and compassion that for what he does.It takes a special person to handle what all our Firefighters,EMT and Paramedics do and see in the cource of a days work.
Mr. Healen, why don't you ask the parents of a 2 year old
how they felt after a Paramedic & EMT for Pro Care revived
their child and had it air lifted to Eaglesten where it
was able to be released the next day

My criticism of the use of Pro Care in Barrow County was never intended to criticize the employees of Pro Care. The problem was a Director of Barrow County took actions for which he had no authority. His actions resulted in a loss of revenue to the County amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I have on many occassions publicly expressed my admiration for and my thanks to the men and women who dedicate themselves to securing our public safety.
I apologize if I gave the impression that I was being critical of employees of either the Barrow County Fire and EMS or Pro Care. That was certainly not my intent.
I was and remain critical of the actions of all who were involved in this plan and who allowed its unauthorized use to continue for almost a year.
This decision by one person resulted in the loss of funds that could have been used for the raises of all employees of Barrow County. This is why a decision of this magnitude must be made by the Board of Commissioners.

Bill, I am glad you continue to look beyond the facts that the county units remaining in service kept them available for the CITIZENS of our county, which DOES put their best interests at hand. You also continue to fail to mention the savings the county retained on maintenance, fuel, and the manpower costs it takes to run those trucks. The heck with money vs. life...I am glad that you have come up with a cost analysis figure for a human life but I simply cannot. To blame this "unmentioned" director for the loss or potential loss of raises for ALL county employees is truly sorry and you need to consider recanting that statement. I am appaled you said that, I thought much better of you! That fault rests solely on the pet projects of the county commissioners and staff, hell not to mention the Sheriff's Office going over budget that YOUR Board of Commissioners paid. You cannot count what money you may have received from these transports, I doubt you have any figures on which transports would have paid or would not have paid. I am sure that what would have been charged for 800+ transports would not equal $800,000, you figures are quite skewed, and I am more sure you would not have collected every penny. I think you need to consider receiving more education before you continue to criticize. Who is "under attack" now sir? Good day!

To the person who wrote this comment first you need to apologize for your use of the foul language. Second Mr. Healan does not owe you or anyone else an apology he is doing his job as a commissioner for this county questioning where the money goes in this county. No one deserves a open checkbook with which to purchase whatever they want. There needs to be some accountibility. So maybe you need to review your facts a little further and understand that you don't speak for all the people and or all the employees. Take care of yourself and express your opinions as your own and don't try to present yourself as speaking for everyone.

I for one applaud the fact that you are looking out for the tax payer. We have an ambulance service and they need to be responsive to the County Commission. If I were to make a decision that costs as much money to my business without letting my boss know about i I would have been let go.

My family lives in Barrow County, my children's daycare is in Barrow County, I travel the roads of Barrow County, I am MORE than happy to have ANY kind of help as to give faster response times to my family in there time of an emergency! BOTTOM LINE PERIOD!!

Mr. Bill Healan, I appreciate the good job you have been and continue to be doing for the county. You look at the facts and not "the old buddy system", that seems to be how the county has been run "for way too long".
I trust with the new Chairman coming on board to assist honest commissioners, that the county will be turned around.
IGNORE THE "YOU SCRATCH MY BACK & I'LL SCRATCH YOUR BACK" PEOPLE THAT HAS GOTTEN BARROW COUNTY IN THE SHAPE IT IS IN TODAY.
****KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BILL****

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